Kaikoura residents forced to hitch a ride to court

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, unless the gander is facing criminal charges.

With the courthouse in Kaikoura closed by the earthquake because staff can’t get there, defendants might have thought a reprieve was coming their way, but their sense of relief was shortlived.

Although staff don’t have to get to Kaikoura, defendants are still expected to make their way to court in either Blenheim or Christchurch, with some having to thumb a ride.

Failure to attend a court appearance could result in a warrant for their arrest.

Blenheim District Court staff would usually travel to Kaikoura to run the courtroom, but State Highway 1 was blocked by landslides.

Kaikoura man Ricky Clark, who is legally blind and unable to drive, had to hitch-hike to Blen- heim three times before pleading guilty to theft.

A police summary of facts said Clark took cookies, tools and a motorbike from a train stranded between slips north of Kaikoura, on November 16. Clark’s lawyer Luke McGuinniety said he had represented three people who hitch-hiked from Kaikoura for court appearances since the earthquake.

‘‘The road’s closed, there’s no bus service, the trains are all gone. It would have been a doddle to jump on the train and come up to Blenheim,’’ McGuinniety said.

‘‘You can bet your bottom dollar there are others that have had to hitch-hike as well.’’

Tengawai, 156 tons, unload fish, load bunkers, LU3; Buffalo, 6,311 tons, berth only, KQ; Antarctic Discovery, 1,500 tons, unload fish, KQE; Janas, 1,079 tons, repairs only, BQ; Voyager P, 321 tons, unload fish, LU3; Santa Rosa, 90 tons, repairs only, Slip; Amaltal Apollo, 529 tons, unload fish, Amatal; Sea Watch, 125 tons, berth only, slip jetty; Aukaha, 1,226 tons, unload fish, load bunkers, Sealord.

Jens Maersk, 30,166 tons, containers, MWS, Sunday; Spirit of Canterbury, 9,910 tons, containers, BQ, Monday; Trans Future 7, 60,401 tons, unload vehicles, load forestry, MCQS, Monday; MSC Banu, 35,954 tons, containers, MWS, Tuesday; Ngankin, 16,801 tons, general, MWS, Wednesday; ANL Elinga, 18,326 tons, containers, BQ, Wednesday; Primrose Ace, 59,952 tons, unload vehicles, MCQS, Thursday.